Quick lunches for work
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LosingGrip

Original Poster:

8,726 posts

185 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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I saw lunches it will also include dinners. Im about to go to shift work from Monday, which I can't wait for as I hated Monday to Friday! But I need some ideas for lunches and dinners to stop me spending a fortune in the shops!

Ill have access to a fridge and a microwave at work.

I have been taken either beef and veg or chicken and veg but it soon gets boring!

Meat wise I like most other than pork (but ham, gammon is nice!). Nothing with onions or mushrooms. Oh, and noodles are a no go.

Not a massive fan of hugely spicy things either.

Thanks for any suggestions smile.

Melman Giraffe

6,794 posts

244 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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pimp up some instant noodles by adding some Veg and pre cooked chicken then some fresh chilli and coriander

https://www.delish.com/cooking/g559/ramen-noodle-r...

Deesee

8,509 posts

109 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Some of this with pasta, noodles (or drink it), put it in a flask, or nuke it. It’s amazing stuff..

https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/16091635...

Cook up a joint, carve it then put slices in individual sandwich bags. Works well with Gammon steaks/Steaks too..(get your bread fresh).

Invest in a decent flask, fish soups, stews etc already to go.

Oh and eat out a few times... my local Chinese does a 7£ all you can eat, the Italian does a set menu for 10£, just gets you out of the canteen.

DMN

3,051 posts

165 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Make up a big batch of dahl at the weekend (red lentils, red onion, stock and spices), and then eat a cup fulls worth each day with a pitta bread. Takes half an hour on a Sunday afternoon to make, stick in the microwave at work for a couple of minutes. The batch will last a week in the fridge.

Melman Giraffe

6,794 posts

244 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
quotequote all
DMN said:
Make up a big batch of dahl at the weekend (red lentils, red onion, stock and spices), and then eat a cup fulls worth each day with a pitta bread. Takes half an hour on a Sunday afternoon to make, stick in the microwave at work for a couple of minutes. The batch will last a week in the fridge.
I bet its a bit windy in the afternoon smile

geeks

11,331 posts

165 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Melman Giraffe said:
pimp up some instant noodles by adding some Veg and pre cooked chicken then some fresh chilli and coriander

https://www.delish.com/cooking/g559/ramen-noodle-r...
First reply offers up the suggestion that was a straight no-no in the OP, god I love PH sometimes hehe

You could batch make some soups and stews etc and portion them up and freeze them, then just take one of each for your meals. This is what I used to do for Mrs geeks when she did shift work, would batch make a chilli (she would take a potato or a micro rice) , pasta dish of some description (carbonara was her favourite), curry etc etc and then a few different soups. I just batch cooked once a month and stashed the lot and she would take what she wanted that day, was also handy for quick meals when not working or for me when i couldnt be arsed to cook for myself when she was working.

Cautionary tale though, make sure you label everything, I once ended up with stewed apple for dinner after I mistook an apple pie filling for a soup, which actually wasn't that bad, I made the best of it and served it up on some french toast with cinnamon hehe

Gary Woodland

2,589 posts

188 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Make nice soups. That's what I've been doing the past couple of months.

Matt Cup

3,266 posts

130 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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I usually take left overs from the night before or I cook bigger portions, like last nights cottage pie will also do me two dinners this week.

Mobile Chicane

21,883 posts

238 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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At weekends I make a huge batch of what I call a roasted 'vegetable mix' and then add to that over the week for variety.

In summer this will be whatever seasonal veg I can get my hands on; green beans, courgettes, new potatoes, peppers etc; in winter more roots and squashes.

Chunk it up and throw into a roasting tin with a drizzle of oil. Roast on 180C until all veggies are soft (they can caramelize a little).

This all goes into a big arse Tupperware box in the bottom of the fridge and I decant out what I need for lunch each day and add stuff to it. Sweetcorn, chick peas, sausages, cheese, salad leaves, fresh herbs, whatever's to hand.

I like to spice it up with chillies, onion, garlic and ginger, but you can of course leave these things out. The main thing being the 'base' you can add stuff to.

chml

741 posts

135 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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Mobile Chicane said:
At weekends I make a huge batch of what I call a roasted 'vegetable mix' and then add to that over the week for variety.

In summer this will be whatever seasonal veg I can get my hands on; green beans, courgettes, new potatoes, peppers etc; in winter more roots and squashes.

Chunk it up and throw into a roasting tin with a drizzle of oil. Roast on 180C until all veggies are soft (they can caramelize a little).

This all goes into a big arse Tupperware box in the bottom of the fridge and I decant out what I need for lunch each day and add stuff to it. Sweetcorn, chick peas, sausages, cheese, salad leaves, fresh herbs, whatever's to hand.

I like to spice it up with chillies, onion, garlic and ginger, but you can of course leave these things out. The main thing being the 'base' you can add stuff to.
That sounds great MC, does the roasted veg last a good few days before going bad?
Thanks

LimaDelta

8,179 posts

244 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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croyde

25,867 posts

256 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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I must do this. Since I started a full time job in the summer I seem to be spending a small fortune on food everyday when I need to be saving money.

Problem is that for that one hour lunch break there is nothing better than getting out of the building for a brisk walk to go sit in a cafe or restaurant to chill.

I've tried the meal deals from the local Co-op but boy! do I find eating in the work place depressing.

Mobile Chicane

21,883 posts

238 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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chml said:
That sounds great MC, does the roasted veg last a good few days before going bad?
Thanks
It does. What I cook on Sunday lasts Monday - Friday.

Your fridge does need to be properly cold though. Less than 5C.

RVVUNM

1,913 posts

235 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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Bombay Badboy

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

8,726 posts

185 months

Friday 6th December 2019
quotequote all
Thanks all! All taken on board (including those with onions, noodles in wink).

I've tried Huel before and I can't stand the texture of it. Plus I enjoy eating smile.

I'll properly go out for food on late shifts (emergency services so bit of team bonding!), but that will be a take away.

A friend had a reheated omelette...has anyone done this?! Is it nice or bearable?!

Condi

19,953 posts

197 months

Friday 6th December 2019
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Its easy to make a big batch of something on a weekend. Things like lasagna, cottage pie, chicken in sauce, meatballs etc. Cook some veg, mash potatoes, and then either portion up on the weekend, or portion up each morning. 2 mins in the microwave and you have a nice, hot, meal for considerably less than buying takeaways.

Something like meatballs in tomato sauce, with veg and spuds can be made for £1.50 or so a portion and is much healthier and cheaper than any takeaway.

Soups also obviously very cheap and easy.


chml

741 posts

135 months

Friday 6th December 2019
quotequote all
Mobile Chicane said:
It does. What I cook on Sunday lasts Monday - Friday.

Your fridge does need to be properly cold though. Less than 5C.
Grand, thanks MC!